Obituary Record

Harold Cooperman
Died on 9/20/2005

None

Omaha World Herald 23 Sept 2005

COOPERMAN-Harold, passed away September 20, 2005, age 87. He was born in Poland, 1918 and came to America in 1923. In high school, he was the family breadwinner by running 3 newspaper routes and a gas station. He graduated from Central High in 1933 at age 15. Married Merriam Lieb, in June 1938. They were happily married for 61 years until she passed away in 1999. He opened his first grocery store, on 16th and Fort in 1938. His daughter, Frances, was born in June 1943. He was in the US Navy, USS Yorktown, Guam and Pacific area, 1943-1946. He then opened a store in Ashland, NE, in 1948. From 1950-1979 he developed Harold’s Supermarkets into 8 store regional chain; his famous TV ad slogan: “If you see me, w-a-v-e, I’m Harold!” 1964: Fran marries Richard Juro, who becomes Harold’s business partner.

1971-1997: Chairman of the Board of United A-G Cooperative, $225MM Omaha grocery wholesaler with 150 grocery store member-customers.

1980: opened No Frills Supermarket in Council Bluffs, the first price impact warehouse supermarket in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area; gradually expanded No Frills from one to 10 stores.

He appeared in his own commercials as many characters: George Washington, Coop the Hoop, the New Years Baby, and even Elvis.

Founder and Board Chairman of River City National Bank (which later became part of what is now US Bancorporation).

2004-5: No Frills expands to locations, employs about 1300 people.

Received Honorary Doctorate from Dana College, Blair.

Survived by sister, Helen Gould, daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Richard Juro.

Grandfather to Kevin Juro, Keri Juro, and Kevin and Kimara Clark.

Great-grandfather of Cooper, Jackson, and Kennedy Clark.

Enjoyed playing handball (until age 60), going to Royals baseball and UNL football games.

His sense of humor reflected his joy of living.

Very philanthropic; numerous civic awards.

Services were held. Memorials to Harold and Merriam Cooperman Senior Service Fund, Rose Blumkin Home, 333 So. 132nd St., Omaha, NE 68154.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Omaha World Herald on 9/23/2005


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